Album of the decade

It has been said before, we have seen it, hear it in all types of Rock documentals which claim to be the superior truth. I´m talking of course of those ALBUMS. Those albums that are nto only good, not only masterpieces, but the ones that define and capture the best of that decade with no room for mistake or failure. Now, I will say one album per decade, which I think, and I know many will agree, are probably the, not best, but more representative of each decade.

For the ´60 - The Beatles - Sgt. Pepper´s lonely hearts club band. I wouldn´t even say it´s The Beatles best (The white album is!) but I do think it might as well be the most important album in rock history. It´s literally the birth of prog, art rock, it pushed more boundaries than any other album had done till then, and anyone who is anyone took something from it.

For the ´70 - Pink Floyd - The dark side of the moon. Not the best album of the decade by a long shot, but probably the most popular one, and the one that allowed the bridge (even if just for a moment) for intelligent music and pop. The one album everybody has in their cd collection. Artistic yet aproachable to the masses, and with sound quality that still holds up to most albums (and wins) till this day.

For the ´80... this one is tricky, I honestly don´t know ... I mean it could be Michael Jacksons Thriller... but then again it just would take the cake for having been such a massive succes more than being influential, at least in a greater scale than just corporative pop... help here is welcomed.

For the ´90 - Radiohead - Ok Computer. This one is probably clearer for me than TDSOTM, it really is the jewl of the ´90. With sounds, compositions, approach that has influenced hundreds, this is the ´90 Sgt Peppers. Radiohead were already being considered the best rock band in the world and Ok Computer did nothing but turn down any doubt that was still around.

... and then we have the ´00´s... this decade is still not over, but is there already a clear winner here? Personally I don´t think there is one. Don´t get me wrong, I think there are some incredible album, some even better than the ones mentioned earlier, but I don´t think any of them has had the succes or the influence for being called "the album of the decade". The only one I think can maaaaybe take that title is, and I hate to sound like a fan boy,: Tool´s Lateralus. What do you think?

Of course you are more than welcomed to comment, disagree, and make a new list of your own. But try to keep some objectivity (no matter how incorrect this really is) when dropping names. I mean, I too love Van der Graaf Generator... but to give it to any of their albums for being the album of the decade is a bit incorrect jeje. Also, just for fun, let´s make our own personal full of subjectivity lists, where we put our favorite albums of each decade, no matter how obscure. Here goes mine.

For the ´60 - King Crimson - In the court of the Crimson King ... well d´ah!
For the ´70 - Yes - Close to the edge
For the ´80 - Kate Bush - The hounds of love
For the ´90 - Radiohead - Ok Computer jejeje
For the ´00 - Tool - Lateralus  ...jejej again

Fun topic, I was just thinking as I was listening to Phideaux's "Doomsday Afternoon" that it is surely my ablum of 2007 but starting to have consideration for Album of the Decade (personally of course) along c Marillion Marbles and Ayreon, "The Human Equation".  I'll find some album from 5 years ago in a few months that will be there as well no doubt.

As for other decades,  60s  Tommy by The Who

60s: High Tide - "Sea Shanties". a good contender would be "Phallus Dei" by Amon Düül 2. not the often quoted "In the Court of the Crimson King". "Lizard" is a much better album by King Crimson, but it is from the 70s
70s: very hard to say; so many good albums to choose from.  I'll pass
80s: again very hard, but for the opposite reason. perhaps Mother Gong's first part of the "Robot Woman" trilogy.
90s: "The Fall of the House of Usher" by Peter Hammill. no contender.
2000s: no idea yet; ask me at the end of 2009



Edited by BaldJean - May 27 2008 at 05:47

60's - In The Court..

1960's- King Crimson - In the Court Of The Crimson King
1970's- The Who - Quadrophenia
1980's- Rush - Moving Pictures
1990's- Eloy - Ocean 2
2000's- Porcupine Tree - Fear Of A Blank Planet

Genesister wrote: But OK Computer is bad, just like every other Radiohead album.

.... *SLAPPPPPPP*

60's Sgt Pepper or Tommy or Court
70's DSOTM or CTTE
80's Script (dunno much of the 80's, so)
90's ...
00's if it's objective, I'm dead. But being subjective I would go for Unfold the Future or Place in the Queue

I completely agree with what el bothy said about OK Computer. It was that album that really defined the time yet will still pushing music forward. They took all of the emotions and energy of the time and composed a masterpiece with it.

And Genesister, I'll deal with you after class.

From a prog standpoint. From my view point while I sit here at this very moment and from my limited exposure to what is out there.

well that's easy